- With Mayo Clinic psychiatrist
Daniel K. Hall-Flavin, M.D.
read biographyclose windowBiography of
Daniel K. Hall-Flavin, M.D.
Daniel K. Hall-Flavin, M.D.
Dr. Daniel Hall-Flavin, board certified in general psychiatry and addiction psychiatry, is a St. Louis native looking to the Internet as a way to help people improve their health and be more active participants in their own health care by learning from Mayo Clinic's experts.
Dr. Hall-Flavin has been a member of the faculties of Cornell University Medical College, New York Medical College, and The George Washington University Medical School before joining the Mayo Clinic staff in 1996. He has special interests in adult psychiatry, addiction psychiatry, and psychogenomics. He has served as medical director of the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence from 1986 to 1999.
"With the advent of the genomics and proteomics revolution and the pace of advances in medicine, informed collaborative relationships between knowledgeable, capable health professionals and informed, proactive individuals and their families are more vital than ever," he said.
"I'm optimistic that our Internet health education activities will contribute to ever-improving health outcomes for all who participate and apply what is learned."
Definition (1)
- 'Clinical depression': What does that mean?
Symptoms (3)
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- Atypical depression: What is it?
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Causes (4)
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- see all in Causes
Complications (1)
- Depression and anxiety: Can I have both?
Treatments and drugs (9)
- Antidepressants: Can they lose effectiveness over time?
- Antidepressants and alcohol: What is the concern?
- Antidepressants and weight gain: What causes it?
- see all in Treatments and drugs
Alternative medicine (1)
- Fish oil supplements: Can they treat depression?
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Question
Atypical depression: What is it?
What is atypical depression? How is it different from "regular" depression?
Answer
from Daniel K. Hall-Flavin, M.D.
Nearly 50 years ago, two English psychiatrists first described atypical depression — a type of depression that seemed to differ from classic forms of depression in both its symptoms and treatment. Experts in the field of psychiatric research continue to debate the finer points of this diagnosis. However, atypical depression is usually characterized by:
- Onset of symptoms at an earlier age
- Overeating
- Oversleeping
- Mood reactivity
Mood reactivity refers to the observation that although people with atypical depression experience pervasive sadness, mood may improve or worsen in direct response to specific events. This is different from classically depressed individuals who experience persistent sadness.
In addition, some research suggests that an older class of drugs, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), may be more effective in treating atypical depression than are newer drugs, including tricyclic antidepressants and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). However, research continues to try to define this more clearly.
Atypical depression is more common in women than in men. Its exact cause isn't clear. But genetics and environmental factors play a role. If you're concerned that you or someone you know has atypical depression, seek help from a mental health professional.
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